City approves $2 million for sidewalk repairs at SAISD schools

SAN ANTONIO -- Nearly $2 million is going towards improving the safety of students, pedestrians, and drivers at SAISD schools.

The city council approved an ordinance on Thursday to begin building more sidewalks.

A parent at Herff Elementary School said,

"They could be more improved so people won’t get hit, and animals, but more students," one Herff Elementary school parent said.

"We've seen a lot of pedestrian facilities and we want to make sure that we are building infrastructure that provides safety, but also encouraging and educating people how to walk safer to drive safer," said April Luna, a spokeswoman for Transpirations and Capital improvements.

Luna added that this is just one part of an initiative called “vision zero.”

Right now, San Antonio has more than 2,000 miles of sidewalk gaps. The four other areas to be fixed are near Douglas, Conell, and Poe Middle Schools as well as Charles Ball Elementary.

"We have been waiting for this, I have been waiting. I'm thankful to god they approved it," said Marta Perez, who lives across the street from Herff Elementary.

SAISD said they haven't had any pedestrian accidents at the schools named, and they want to keep it that way with safer streets.

Construction will start in November and is expected to be finished by June next year.